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Galle Fort Hotel is a colonial-era villa, set within the ramparts of the Galle Fort, on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast. Once a Dutch merchant’s mansion, this 18th-century villa fell into disrepair, until it was painstaking restored and beautifully reinvented in 2003, as a boutique hotel. The result; it won the 2007 UNESCO, Asia Pacific Heritage Award of Distinction, calling it “a masterpiece of cultural heritage and conservation” and now is a member of Small Luxury Hotel of the World.
The main Galle Fort Hotel area, still commands verandas and courtyards, columns and arches – all carefully restored to their original grandeur. A newer building at the back blends seamlessly, following the same period architecture and holds 12 rooms and suites. All are elegantly furnished with a minimalist style, blending the old with the new. And baring the old grandeur and antique furniture, there is a welcoming flair of luxury and elegance.
The Galle Fort restaurant overseen by the owner-chef Christopher Ong, creates classic Asian-West dishes which are served on the veranda. The hotel’s terrace bar is an atmospheric option for cocktails and the charming cafe-bar is becoming a favoured meeting point. Guests can stretch their muscles with a free morning yoga, then explore the town or surf off the Unawatuna’s white sandy beaches before returning for a deep soak in the swimming pool and relax on a sun lounger.
Amenities
24hr Room ServiceBar/PubConciergeCribs/Infant Beds AvailableFamily RoomFitness CentreGardenLibraryMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesWi-Fi AvailableStay The Galle Fort Hotel features just 12 rooms and suites. Rooms are large, varied and unique, some decorated with 19th-century blue and white porcelain plates while other commemorate a Chinese Admiral. Splash out on the Grand Apartment suite and jump on a grand antique four-poster bed or the Grand Apartment, the penthouse suite with two bedrooms. All have king-sized beds dressed with canopied mosquito netting and stylish ensuite bathrooms with showers.
ChildCare Families with children of 3 years and above are welcome to stay at Galle Fort Hotel. The Library Suite is the largest suite in the house and is ideal for small families, those travelling with parents or even just for two people who value their personal space!
Dine The chefs at the Galle Fort restaurant celebrate both tradition and freshness, using seasonal produce to create sensational dishes. The restaurant is highly acclaimed and its popularity is evident with many guests coming from outside the hotel. Breakfast and dinner is served on the veranda both of which have a limited but exquisite menu, which may include Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese dishes prepared by local staff who have been meticulously trained on overseas visits.
Relax There are ample spaces in the inner courtyard of the Galle Fort Hotel or you can relax in the 10-metre swimming pool, one of the largest in the Fort. There are free yoga sessions held every morning on request or in the evenings. A spa suite provides Thai massages that match Bangkok’s finest, given by a house masseur.
Experience Galle is a walled city surrounded by thick ramparts and Galle Fort Hotel is located on Church Street, in the centre of this historical setting. The place is surrounded with cafés, boutique shops and some of the best restaurants. Activities include surfing on the Unawatuna’s white sandy beaches and there is a coral reef off the shore where you can do some scuba diving. Guests can go cycling in the surrounding area and visits to Koggala Lake or one of the many golden beaches along the coast.
Location Galle Fort Hotel is set in Galle's historic fort, a Unesco World Heritage site, about 3-4 hours from Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Getting there Fly to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. From Colombo airport it about a 3-hour drive to Galle Fort Hotel.
When to go Sri Lanka is a year-round destination with consistently warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. There are two monsoon seasons but they only bring rain to the west and south-west coasts from May to September; and the east coast and northern region between October and February. The rest of the year is sunny and dry but the months of December to April are probably the best time to visit. Colombo and the low-lying coastal regions have an average temperature of 27°C.
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